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Monday, April 7, 2008

M58- BENS FRIENDS

FITIAL IS STILL MAKING FRIENDS IN D.C.

THE U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources says the General Accountability Office’s economic impact report regarding the CNMI federalization wasn’t “suppressed,” or “poorly drafted.” as earlier claimed by the Fitial administration. Story HereBill Wicker, told Variety in an e-mail that “We disagree,” Wicker said referring to the earlier comment of the governor’s special legal counsel, Howard P. Willens.“The committee asked the [Bush] administration, including the Department of Homeland Security, to revise the bill that passed the U.S. Senate in 2000, as a drafting service. This revised draft was then further reviewed and revised by congressional staff and several committees of both houses of Congress,” he added.Wicker said the CNMI’s Washington lobbyist — Oldaker, Biden & Belair LLP — failed to give them specific suggestions for improvement though they were asked to do so.They “were asked by the committee last year to provide their specific suggestions for improvement, but they did not,” Wicker said. The Fitial administration has been paying Oldaker, Biden & Belair LLP $15,000 a month since late 2006.Money well spent, don't ya think? Well never mind, there is plenty to go around, we won't miss it at all. Good old Ben pissing off more federal agents. If we could only find a way to utilize this seeming special talent we could go places. If pissing-off the fed's paid good money we would have it made in the shade. No problem, need money, piss-off someone else you have missed. A gold mine indeed!I also read in another article (Story Here) that the garment industry wants Ben Tan to lobby the fed's for improved status to keep the garment firms afloat, well good luck there too. I'll bet all his friends will jump all over this and grant him anything he wishes. Good luck with that, but don't hold your breath, it might take another 4 years for him to get it done.Read this while the power is still on.........GED.....